Chinese robot breaks human world record in Beijing half-marathon
Key Points:
- A Chinese-built humanoid robot developed by smartphone maker Honor set a new half-marathon world record in Beijing, completing the 21-kilometer race in 50 minutes and 26 seconds, surpassing the human record of about 57 minutes.
- The robot's performance marked a significant improvement from last year's event, where the fastest robot took over 2 hours and 40 minutes to finish, showcasing rapid advancements in robotics technology.
- Nearly half of the competing robots ran autonomously, while others were remotely controlled, though some experienced glitches such as stumbling or veering off course during the race.
- Engineers highlighted the robot's design features, including long legs and advanced cooling systems, which mimic elite athletes and could have future applications in industrial scenarios.
- The event reflects China's strategic push to dominate robotics and AI technology amid a global competition with the United States, despite current limitations in commercial humanoid robot use.